Shrub rose plant named ‘AUSlevity’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSlevity’. The ‘AUSlevity’ is a variety of rose suitable for cut-flower production with large blooms containing frilly petals of rich buttery yellow paling to cream towards the edge, and demonstrating a strong, fragrance with hints of honey, lilac and almond.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridashrub of the market class ‘English Rose’.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘AUSlevity’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSlevity’, which was originated from the cross-pollination ofthe two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce an English Rosevariety suitable for cut-flower production with large blooms containingfrilly petals of rich buttery yellow paling to cream towards the edge,and demonstrating a strong fragrance with hints of honey, lilac andalmond.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherspresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: large blooms containingheavy frilled petals the color of a rich, buttery yellow that pales tocream toward the edge of the blooms, and demonstrating a strongfragrance with hints of honey, lilac and almond.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed atBowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing andother distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSlevity’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa ‘Inermis’ for theobserved plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed and pollen parents of ‘AUSlevity’ are two unnamed seedlings.The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: the seed parent is a yellow hybrid teabloom compared with the old-fashioned double bloom with frilly petals of‘AUSlevity’. The new rose may be distinguished from its pollen parent,by the following combination of characteristics: the parent is a pinkrose compared with the yellow blooms of ‘AUSlevity’.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivars to the new variety are the‘AUSjameson’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,159). The new rose may bedistinguished from the ‘AUSjameson’ variety by the following combinationof characteristics: the ‘AUSjameson’ has petals that are rounder withedges that are mostly entire, whereas the petals of ‘AUSlevity’ areobovate with frilly edges. In addition, in ‘AUSjameson’ the color of thequarter-blown buds are orange (RHS 28C), whereas in ‘AUSlevity’ the budsare yellow (RHS 12A), and when the blooms are fully open ‘AUSjameson’ ismore apricot, whereas ‘AUSlevity’ is more yellow and fades to creamtoward its outer edges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter.

Throughout this specification, color references and/or values are basedupon The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001) exceptwhere common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Observations of budded ‘AUSlevity’ specimens were made at the nursery atDavid Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.The following description is of 6 year-old potted rose plants of the newvariety grown indoors in a greenhouse in Albrighton, Britain in themonth of June. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental,cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditionsof light and soil.

-   Flower characteristics:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous. The number of blooms per plant            during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many            to count.        -   Bud.—Size: About 2 cm long and 1.9 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is pointed ovoid            and broad based. Color: When sepals first divide, the bud            color is RHS 151C (yellow-green group). When half blown, the            upper sides of the petals are RHS 12A (yellow group), and            the lower sides of the petals are RHS 12A (yellow group).            Calyx: Shape: star-shaped when the bloom is open, folding            back against the stem. Length: 7 cm. Diameter: 7 cm. Sepals:            Arrangement: Regular. Color: Upper Surface: green RHS 147C            (yellow-green group). Lower Surface: green RHS 144A            (yellow-green group). Length: 3 cm. Width: 1.2 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Surface texture: Upper Surface: Downy. Lower            Surface: Slightly downy. Number: There are 2 lightly            appendaged sepals, and 3 unappendaged sepals with hairy            edges. Receptacles: Color: RHS 143C (yellow-green group).            Shape: funnel. Size: broad, about 1 cm high×0.8 cm wide.            Surface: Smooth. Peduncle: Length: medium, averaging about            8 cm. Surface: Smooth. Color: RHS 143C (green group) with            RHS 181A (greyed-red group). Strength: Normal.        -   Blooms.—Size: Large, average open diameter is about 10 cm.            Borne: Mostly singly. (Note: the inflorescence when the            shrub is growing naturally may hold between 1 and 6 blooms,            and then has a rounded shape. When grown commercially for            cut-flower production the stems are disbudded to ensure the            blooms are grown singly.) Stems: Strength: Normal, average            length is about 40 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Form: When first            open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom: outer petals            curl back.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 83.            Color: The upper sides of the petals are mostly RHS 9C            (yellow group), with the outer edge of the petal being a            paler RHS 27D (orange group). The reverse sides of the            petals are mostly RHS 10B (yellow group), with the outer            edge being a very pale pink RHS 36B (red group). The base of            the outer petals has no yellow spot, as the major yellow            color of the petal reaches down to the base. Variegations:            None. Discoloration: The general tonality at the end of the            first day is RHS 9B (yellow group), and at the end of the            third day is RHS 10C (yellow group). With further aging the            color then further changes to RHS 158C (yellow-white group).            Fragrance: Strong. Character of fragrance: fruity with hints            of honey, lilac and almond.        -   Petals.—Texture: Leathery. Size: Width: 5 cm. Length: 5 cm.            Surface: Smooth. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Strong undulation            of margin, with weak reflexing. Apex Shape: Heavily frilled,            some that are notched. Base Shape: Obtuse. Form: Incurved            with frilled edges. Arrangement: Quartered. Petaloids:            Number: about 3. Color: RHS 20A (yellow-orange group).            Length: 7 mm. Width: 4 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Margin:            Irregular. Persistence: Petals hang on and dry. Lastingness:            On the plant: not tested. As a cut flower: About 10 days.        -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 140. Length: 5-9 mm.            Anthers: Length: 3 mm. Color: RHS 21C (yellow-orange group).            Arrangement: Regular around styles. Filaments: Color: RHS            21C (yellow-orange group). Length: 3-6 mm. Pollen: Color:            RHS 21A (yellow-orange group). Pistils: Number: 70. Length:            15 mm. Styles: Color: RHS 145D (yellow-green group). Length:            13 mm. Stigmas: Color: RHS 7A (yellow group). Length: 2 mm.            Hips: None Observed.-   Plant characteristics:    -   -   Plant form.—Shrub, English Rose.        -   Plant growth.—Medium.        -   Age to maturity.—One year.        -   Mature plant.—Height: 75 cm. Width: 75 cm.        -   Rootstock.—Rosa ‘Inermis’ for the observed plants.        -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5.            Size: Medium, about 15 cm long×13 cm wide. Quantity:            Abundant. Number of leaves per flowering stem is: 10. Color:            New foliage: Upper side: RHS 146B (yellow-green group)            tinged with RHS 181A (greyed-red group). Lower side: RHS            146C (yellow-green group) overlaid with some RHS 181A            (greyed-red group). Old foliage: Upper side: RHS 137A (green            group). Lower side: RHS 137C (green group).        -   Leaflets.—Size: About 8 cm long×5 cm wide. Shape: Pointed            oval. Base Shape: Obtuse. Apex Shape: Acuminate. Texture:            Leathery. Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single. Petiole:            Color: RHS 143A (green group) with RHS 181A (greyed-red            group). Length: 3 cm. Width: 1.8 m. Surface Texture: Rough,            glandular. Petiole Rachis: Color: RHS 143A (green group)            with RHS 181A (greyed-red group). Underside: with occasional            prickles and slightly glandular. Stipules: Length: 2.5 cm,            glandular. Color: RHS 143C (green group). Auricle: Shape:            Lanceolate. Length: 7 mm. Width: 2 mm. Color: RHS 143C            (green group). Vein Color: Same as leaf color. Venation            Pattern: Reticulate.        -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: RHS 143C (green group) with RHS 181A            (greyed-red group). Bark: Smooth. Old Wood: Color: RHS 143C            (green group) with RHS 181A (greyed-red group). Bark:            Smooth.        -   Branching habit.—Number: None.        -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 63 cm. Diameter: 6 mm. Internode            Distance: 4 cm. The above measurements are all variable,            depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem Pubescence            Present: No.        -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: Few. Number per            stem length: 10 per 10 cm. Form: Deep concave. Length: 5 mm.            Color when young: RHS181B (greyed-red group). Color when            mature: RHS 199D (greyed-brown group).        -   Small prickles.—Quantity: Main stalk: None.        -   Disease resistance.—Mildew: Resistant. Blackspot: Not            tested. Rust: Not tested.        -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.        -   Winter hardiness.—Not tested.        -   Growing conditions.—Normal greenhouse conditions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of theshrub class suitable for cut flower production, substantially as hereinshown and described.